“ Once upon a time, 125 years ago ... on a chilly winters’ night on Wed 7 June 1893 a young man was thrown off the train at Pietermaritzburg Station - the Birthplace of Satyagraha”
Pietermaritzburg railway station - main railway station in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
Historically, the station is famous as being the place where Mahatma Gandhi was thrown off a train for riding first class in 1893.
Pietermaritzburg's City Hall claims to be the largest brick building in the southern hemisphere, located in the middle of Pietermaritzburg city centre.
Impressive and spectacular, with its 47m high tower, built from 1893-1900, this building holds the global record as the largest brick building in existence, but, perhaps more important, is that this impressive red- brick building is equally beautiful.
Gandhi statue - Unveiled 1993 by Archbishop Desmond Tutu marking the centenary since Gandhi was thrown from the train.
Also at the function was Nelson Mandela, his first official public attendance after his release from prison.
Opposite the old colonial buildings on Church Street in Pietermaritzburg stands the statue of Gandhi, whose notorious ejection from a train shaped his unique version of non-violent resistance, known as ‘Satyagraha’ or passive resistance.
In this bronze statue he is depicted in his traditional dhoti, staff in hand whilst the other hand reaches out in peace, the statue a commemoration of the centenary of his enforced removal in 1893 from the train because he was a man of colour in first class, who politely refused to move to third class.
Gandhi Statue PMB is listed #1 of 15 Gandhi Statues around the world.
A total of 129 Gandhi Statues around the world (outside India) are testament to a legend and the direct result of one night, 125 years ago, that changed history.
Nelson Mandela Capture Site: Sculpture at Nelson Mandela Capture Site comprises 50 steel columns, between 6 and 9.5m in height, covering a width of almost 30 metres. Cut by laser to form an image of former president when viewed at the correct angle
